Sign up to see more
SignupAlready a member?
LoginBy continuing, you agree to Sociomix's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy
By continuing, you agree to Sociomix's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy
At first glance, this might seem like a heated rant by a bitterly single girl on Valentine's Day. But it's not about the state of being single. It's about why you are single. And I am single because I've been greatly disappointed in all the relationships I've been in. This is indeed a rant. But by a girl who has always found knowledge more empowering than people.
So here is why being single on 14 February or even Valentine's Day itself is not that big of a deal.
Despite being named after a Christian saint (his story ahead), Valentine's Day actually finds its roots in Roman mythology. Depending on your religious inclinations, that might make the day suspicious or perhaps more exciting for you. Like modern youth, the Romans also celebrated the month of love in a series of events spanning across days.
14 February was to appease the goddess Juno Fructifer. In one ritual, women submitted their names to be chosen by men in a lucky draw. Not very couple-friendly, if you ask me. 15 February was Lupercalia, the festival to honor Faunus, the god of fertility. In typical ways of our ancient ancestors, the 'celebration' involved sacrifices of animals and even humans. Doesn't make Valentine's Day sound like a day worth celebrating, right?
When it comes to fulfilled happy love, St. Valentine really just cuts a sorry figure. Not something any couple or lover would want to look forward to. According to legend, Valentine was a priest who served Rome in the late third century. Around this time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men were better soldiers than married ones (because the latter have hope for the future and low-key hate war, you know?). So he ruled that marriages should be banned for young men (such patriarchy, much wow). Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree continued to perform marriages for young couples in love in secret. When Claudius discovered this, Valentine was beheaded brutally.
Another version of the story is just as miserable. Another saint of the same name was jailed by a similar tyrant. He fell in love with the jailor's daughter. His last letter to her before the execution was poignantly signed 'From your Valentine'. And that's where the term comes from.
two minutes of silence
And you are sitting there crying about not having a date! There are worse problems in the world Karen!
Unless you are living in a fairy tale, this should have been pretty clear. If you are in a relationship, they will guilt you into buying all these flowers and chocolates and teddy bears lest you are proven to be a bad partner. And if you are single, they will show you all these beautiful pictures of couples going abroad to force you to spend exorbitant amounts to pamper yourself. Well, self-care is important, but so are wise expenditure habits.
In 2020, Americans alone spent $27.4 billion on Valentine's Day merchandise! That is one-third of Mark Zuckerberg's net worth! Just don't blame him tomorrow for being the owner of a giant exploitative capitalist corporation if you let your money flow senselessly today!
Little oxytocin, no love. More oxytocin, aaaahhhh the adrenaline rush!
Love is just a combination of three human mechanisms - libido, partner preference, and attachment. So you fall in love for three reasons. Either because you're horny (the most understandable, to be honest). Or because you desperately want to be a mommy or daddy. Or because you have unresolved mommy or daddy issues from childhood. For the second, get a pet! For the third, read some Freud dude! And for the first, well, I don't know. Probably that is a valid reason for crying about being single.
In any case, have a date with your mind this Valentine's Day. While all these blogs and internet influencers tell you how to immerse in the best way possible in the market of love, take a step back and look at it objectively. Probably introspect on why none of your relationships work out. Or perhaps think about the entire drama of the big day and have a laugh with yourself. Either way, you discover who your best mate truly is. That one person whose companionship you offer in every relationship. That one person who you live with every single second of your life - Valentine's Day or not. You.
The scientific breakdown of love actually makes relationships seem less complicated.
The article's message about self-love is particularly important in today's society.
The connection between ancient traditions and modern marketing is eye-opening.
It's comforting to know that even ancient Romans struggled with relationships.
Love the scientific approach to explaining relationships. Makes everything seem less mysterious.
This changed my whole perspective on feeling lonely during Valentine's Day.
The Roman festival sounds wild. Imagine explaining that to modern Valentine's Day celebrators.
Interesting perspective on how being single can actually lead to better self-understanding.
The article's take on self-discovery is refreshing in a world obsessed with coupling up.
Amazing how we turned a story about beheading into a celebration of love and chocolate.
The part about having a date with your mind really resonated with me. Self-reflection is underrated.
Never thought about Valentine's Day having such dark origins. Really changes how I see those cute heart decorations.
Finding humor in being single is definitely better than feeling sorry for yourself.
The article makes a good point about wise expenditure habits. Love shouldn't break the bank.
I'm sharing this with all my single friends who need a different perspective on Valentine's Day.
The breakdown of love into scientific terms is fascinating but doesn't make heartbreak any easier.
The article's message about self-discovery is actually more romantic than traditional Valentine's Day stuff.
Reading this made me realize how much pressure we put on ourselves to be in relationships.
The historical facts make for great conversation starters at awkward Valentine's Day gatherings.
I appreciate how the article doesn't try to sugarcoat the reality of being single.
The part about unresolved issues influencing our relationships hit close to home.
Never thought I'd find comfort in knowing love is just chemicals in my brain.
The suggestion to introspect instead of wallowing is actually really practical advice.
I'm surprised by how much I learned about history from an article about being single.
The article makes valid points but seems to dismiss the joy some people genuinely find in celebrating the day.
Just realized I've been participating in this corporate scam for years without questioning it.
The comparison between ancient sacrifices and modern spending habits is pretty clever.
I love how it breaks down the three reasons for falling in love. Really makes you question your own motivations.
The article could have mentioned how social media adds to the Valentine's Day pressure nowadays.
Anyone else feel better knowing that even St. Valentine had relationship troubles?
The historical context really helps put things in perspective. Our modern celebrations seem tame in comparison.
I'm going to start calling it a date with my mind whenever I spend Valentine's Day alone now.
The article's tone is perfect mix of cynical and compassionate. Makes you think without making you feel bad.
The scientific explanation of love makes it seem less scary somehow. Like it's a natural process we all go through.
I relate to the part about finding knowledge more empowering than relationships. Books never let you down!
Interesting how the article connects ancient practices to modern marketing tactics. Some things never change.
The Roman lottery system for coupling sounds terrifying. Modern dating apps suddenly don't seem so bad!
That statistic about American spending is mind-blowing. Imagine if we directed that money toward something meaningful.
I appreciate how the article emphasizes self-love without being preachy about it.
The connection between love and attachment issues is interesting. Makes me think about my own relationship patterns.
The suggestion to get a pet instead of rushing into relationships is actually pretty solid advice.
I'm surprised the article didn't mention how different cultures celebrate love. It's not just a Western phenomenon.
Let's be real though, calling Valentine's Day a corporate scam won't make being single any easier for some people.
The article's point about introspection is valuable. Sometimes being single is exactly what we need for personal growth.
I find it fascinating how the holiday evolved from animal sacrifices to chocolate hearts. Talk about a marketing upgrade!
The part about spending habits is crucial. We shouldn't let marketing manipulate us into equating love with material gifts.
This actually inspired me to learn more about the history behind other holidays we celebrate without question.
Reading about St. Valentine's execution really puts my single status in perspective. At least I'm not getting beheaded for love!
The corporate scam part really resonates with me. I've always felt pressured to buy expensive gifts just to prove my love.
I appreciate how the article balances humor with serious historical and scientific facts. Makes the message more digestible.
You lost me at love being just a chemical reaction. My feelings for my partner are way more complex than that.
Anyone else find it interesting how the Romans celebrated love for multiple days? Maybe we should bring that tradition back!
The idea of having a date with your mind is actually pretty profound. We often forget to nurture our relationship with ourselves.
That bit about Freud made me laugh. Maybe I should read some psychology books instead of downloading dating apps.
I never knew about Emperor Claudius II banning marriages for young men. Talk about government overreach!
The article makes me feel better about being single. It's nice to know there are others who see through the Valentine's Day hype.
While I get the historical criticism, I think we can create our own meaning for Valentine's Day. It doesn't have to be about its origins.
The part about self-discovery is spot on. I've learned more about myself during my single periods than in any relationship.
I completely agree about getting a pet instead of rushing into relationships. My dog gives me all the oxytocin I need!
That comparison to Mark Zuckerberg's net worth really put things in perspective for me. We're literally spending billions on cards and chocolates.
The article makes some good points, but I think it's a bit too cynical. There's nothing wrong with celebrating love, even if the holiday has commercial aspects.
I actually find it liberating to think of love as a chemical reaction. Takes away all the pressure of finding the perfect match.
What really struck me was the part about Roman traditions. A lucky draw to choose partners? Imagine if we still did that today!
Can we talk about that $27.4 billion spending figure? That's absolutely insane. We really need to rethink our priorities as a society.
The story about St. Valentine secretly performing marriages is actually pretty romantic when you think about it. He died standing up for love!
Honestly, I disagree with reducing love to just chemistry. There's something magical about human connection that science can't fully explain.
The scientific breakdown of love into chemical reactions makes so much sense. I've always wondered why my feelings seem to follow such predictable patterns.
I love how this article challenges the whole commercialized nature of Valentine's Day. It's refreshing to see someone point out how we're basically being manipulated into spending money.
The historical background of Valentine's Day is actually quite dark and disturbing. I had no idea about the human sacrifices part!